The 2019 Lincoln Nautilus shares the CD4 platform with the Ford Edge and inherits some problematic EcoBoost quirks, particularly catastrophic low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI) failures on the 2.7L twin-turbo and carbon buildup issues on both turbo engines. The 8-speed automatic transmission has shown premature oil cooler and mount failures that can strand you if ignored.
2.7L EcoBoost Catastrophic Engine Failure (LSPI)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 30,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Sudden loss of power with violent knocking under light acceleration from low RPM, Metal debris in oil causing bearing failure and rod knock, Check engine light with misfire codes before total failure, Coolant mixing with oil in severe cases
Fix: Low-speed pre-ignition destroys pistons and rods. Requires complete short block replacement or engine rebuild with updated pistons. 18-25 labor hours depending on shop efficiency and parts availability. This is a known Ford EcoBoost design flaw affecting high-torque turbo V6s under specific load conditions.
Estimated cost: $8,500-14,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid leaking near radiator area, Harsh shifting or slipping when fluid level drops, Transmission overheating warnings on dash, Pink or red fluid visible under vehicle
Fix: The plastic quick-connect fittings on the cooler lines become brittle and crack. Requires replacement of cooler lines and often the entire cooler assembly. If caught early, 2-3 labor hours. If transmission ran low on fluid, expect internal damage requiring rebuild. Flush and filter service mandatory after repair.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Direct Injection Carbon Buildup
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Rough idle and misfires on cold start, Loss of power during acceleration, Poor fuel economy (3-5 mpg drop), Check engine light with P0300-series misfire codes
Fix: Both the 2.0L and 2.7L EcoBoost engines have no port injection to keep valves clean. Requires walnut blasting of intake valves. 4-6 labor hours to remove intake manifold and clean all cylinders properly. Should be done preventively every 60k-80k miles on these engines.
Estimated cost: $600-900
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Excessive vibration at idle in gear, Visible engine movement when accelerating hard, Metallic banging over bumps
Fix: The rear transmission mount tears due to torque from the turbo engines. Requires lift access and subframe partial drop on some configurations. 2-3 labor hours. Often replace both engine and transmission mounts simultaneously since labor overlaps.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Turbocharger Wastegate Rattle and Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Rattling noise from engine bay at idle or light throttle, Loss of boost pressure and sluggish acceleration, Check engine light with underboost codes (P0299), Rattling disappears under load
Fix: Wastegate actuator arm wears and rattles inside turbo housing. On 2.7L both turbos may need replacement. Requires turbo removal and replacement, new gaskets, fluids. 6-9 labor hours for single turbo, 10-14 for both on 2.7L. Oil and coolant lines often seep after high mileage.
Estimated cost: $2,200-5,500
PTU (Power Transfer Unit) Fluid Leak and Whine
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 55,000-95,000 mi
Symptoms: Whining noise that increases with speed (AWD models only), Fluid leak at front of rear driveshaft, Burning smell from front axle area, AWD malfunction warning on dash
Fix: The PTU seal fails and unit runs dry, damaging internal gears. Ford spec calls for lifetime fluid but that's unrealistic. If caught early with just seal leak, 2 hours labor. If internal damage occurred, PTU replacement requires 4-6 hours and often rear driveshaft work.
Estimated cost: $300-2,800
Fuel System Low Pressure Sensor Failure
Occasional · low severity
Symptoms: Check engine light with P0087 or P0191 codes, Hard starting or extended cranking, Occasional stalling at idle, Reduced power mode activation
Fix: The low-pressure fuel sensor on the fuel rail fails intermittently. Simple sensor replacement, but accessing it requires removing engine cover and sometimes intake components. 1-1.5 labor hours. Always check actual fuel pressure before throwing parts; could be failing fuel pump in tank.
Estimated cost: $250-450
Owner tips
Use only premium fuel (93 octane) in 2.7L models to reduce LSPI risk; avoid lugging the engine below 2000 RPM under heavy throttle
Service PTU fluid every 30,000 miles on AWD models despite 'lifetime fill' claim—use Motorcraft XT-10-QLVC only
Have intake valves walnut-blasted every 60,000-70,000 miles before misfires start—prevention is cheaper than diagnosis
Check transmission cooler lines annually for cracks; replace proactively at 60k miles if you see any weeping
Oil changes every 5,000 miles maximum with full synthetic—turbo engines are unforgiving of extended intervals
Buy only if you can afford catastrophic 2.7L engine failure or stick to well-maintained lower-mileage examples with full service records—the luxury doesn't offset the EcoBoost landmines.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Ford Mustang, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 19V076. At vehicle start-up, the Instrument Panel Cluster Assembly (IPC) may not function, showing a blank display. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
Consequence: A blank instrument cluster that fails to display critical safety information, such as vehicle speed or safety system warnings, increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the Instrument Panel Cluster Assembly (IPC) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 6. 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C27. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6, 2026.
LANE DEPARTURE: LANE KEEP: STEERING ASSIST · 26V377000
2026-06-09
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Lincoln Nautilus vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 19V031. The lane center assist system may not adequately detect if a driver has their hands off the steering wheel for a prolonged period of time.
Consequence: Failure to alert the driver with the intended hands-off the wheel warnings may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the power steering control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 6. 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S44. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6, 2026.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE · 25V442000
2025-06-27
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Consequence: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · 20V550000
2020-09-10
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Edge, Transit Connect and Lincoln MKX and 2020 Escape and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing or loose bolts.
Consequence: Missing or loose bolts on the start stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission fluid leak and may progress to a loss of transmission function. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the start/stop accumulator, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S49.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST · 20V414000
2020-07-17
Ford Motor Company, Inc. (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX and 2019-2020 Nautilus vehicles equipped with 16-way electric tilt seats. The seat cushion frame edge may contact the wire harness when the seat occupant uses the tilt function of the seat, potentially damaging one or more wires within the harness, which can result in either inadvertent deployment of the air bag or nondeployment of the air bag in the event of a crash.
Consequence: An air bag that deploys inadvertently increases the risk of a crash. An air bag that does not deploy in the event of a crash increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install protective flocking tape onto the exposed edge of the 16-way seat cushion frames, and inspect the wire harness for damage, and repair or replace it as needed, free of charge. This recall began August 12, 2020. Owners may contact Ford/Lincoln customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S37.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Ford Mustang, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. At vehicle start-up, the Instrument Panel Cluster Assembly (IPC) may not function, showing a blank display. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
Consequence: A blank instrument cluster will not show important information like vehicle speed, fuel or temperature level, or safety system warnings. Driving with an inoperative cluster can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the Instrument Panel Cluster Assembly (IPC), free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2019. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C03.
LANE DEPARTURE: LANE KEEP: STEERING ASSIST · 19V031000
2019-01-14
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Lincoln Nautilus vehicles. The Lane Center Assist system may not adequately detect if a driver has their hands off the steering wheel for a prolonged period of time.
Consequence: If the system remains active despite the driver not having their hands on the wheel, the driver's inattention may increase the risk of crash.
Remedy: Ford has notified owners, and dealers will update the Power Steering Control Module software, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S02.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · 18V806000
2018-11-14
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Lincoln Nautilus vehicles that are not equipped with Adaptive Front Steering. The plastic cover on the driver frontal air bag module may detach during air bag deployment.
Consequence: If the air bag cover separates during deployment, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began December 7, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S38.
Performance
Horsepower
250hp
Torque
280lb-ft
0–60 mph
7.2sec
Quarter mile
15.5sec
Top speed
130mph
Capability & size
Towing capacity
3,500lb
Payload
1,100lb
Curb weight
4,400lb
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus 2.0L I4 Turbo and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.